Muscovites have a problematic coach.
results
We evaluate Abascal on several important points for a coach. Spartak has six defeats and three World Cup defeats RPL, seventh place in the championship, eight points behind leader Krasnodar. Of the clubs in the top eight, only Rubin won, but in August, and Dynamo with a goal difference. At the same time, Spartak lost to Akhmat, Fakel and Ural. There is no victory over Zenit, no success against Krasnodar. Abascal also burned in Samara 0:4. And even if this is Spartak’s only defeat RPL, nothing to brag about. In Orenburg they could have lost by a big score in the Cup playoffs, but they were lucky. However, if they fly off the Path RPLthen they might be left without the final of the cup tournament – character is rarely demonstrated.
Dynamic
Now let’s compare the results in two seasons of Abascal. Seventeen rounds have passed, we scored 27 points. The goal difference is zero, 24 goals against someone else and 24 defensive errors. Mediocre classic results. But if we compare it to last season, Abascal has regressed. A year ago, Spartak was in second place, gaining seven points more. We scored 40 goals compared to 24 now, we conceded only 18, six goals less. Last season there were only three defeats at this point in the season, and now there are six. Then there were 11 victories and they beat Krasnodar, Lokomotiv (twice) and Krylia Sovetov. Now there is no longer any trace of that productive team, capable of scoring four or five goals against opponents of different levels.
Development
Let’s move on to evaluating player development. A year ago, after seventeen rounds, Promes had scored 14 goals and 6 assists. Now Spartak’s strongest player has much more modest results: 5 goals and 6 assists. He creates chances, but there is no one to convert them. Sobolev a year ago had 11 points based on the total of shots and assists, and now Alexander has 7 direct participations in effective attacks. And what is most important is the conflict with the mentor. Umyarov and Meleshin did not achieve significant success with Abascal, both play little. Team veterans Moses, Zobnin and Dzhikia are out of form. There is tension in the relationship with Captain Georgy. Furthermore, Guillermo did not make Litvinov, Ignatov, Khlusevich and Denisov superstars. Even Prutsev, if we compare the performances of last season and this season, did not turn into a superstar. I just played well in some games. Abascal cannot boast of player progress, there is none. But in Grozny there was the first defeat in the championship in eight years.
Transfers
A year ago, a young Spanish coach could complain that they did not make transfers, so he could not make a breakthrough in the championship with Spartak. But since last winter the money has been allocated. In the summer, Bongonda, Medina, Ryabchuk and Babich arrived. Four transfers – four missed shots. Nobody has emerged as a key player, even if the two wingers are playing good games. But the lateral Ryabchuk leaves a bad impression and definitely did not become Spartak’s main left back. There is also no reason to praise Babich, the Almeria defender turned out to be an average footballer, this is not the new Gigot. There were also winter signings, but Duarte did not play and the Portuguese Tavares was injured. It is also worth scolding Abaskal for not insisting on signing the attacking midfielder and for blindly believing in Ignatov. There is no mature supporter. And there is a lack of a strong forward reserve, sometimes Sobolev’s efforts are not enough and there is no direct replacement. Balde and Nicholson failed to impress the manager and left on loan in the summer.
Playing style
Spartak concedes a lot, the team is only seventh in terms of quality of chances conceded and is in modest eleventh place in terms of goals conceded. The performances do not deserve compliments. Rostov is experiencing a controversial season and Karpin’s team has scored as many goals as Spartak. Maybe at least some quality moments? No, on a par with the Urals. Abascal has high blood pressure, but this is Fakel and Rostov’s setup. “Spartak” acts as the first number, the class of the interpreters allows them to make many passes into the last third of the pitch. But all the trump cards are canceled out by uncorrected mistakes in defense, and five “crackers” do not turn Spartak into a team with an enviable game. Abascal’s football is understandable, but the game design is mediocre. Lots of experimentation and stubbornness, little flexibility in taking opponents into account and brilliant moves from the coach. “Spartak” hits the target, but the advantage for the standings is minimal.
Reputation
For Spartak this is an important point in evaluating a coach. Abascal symbolizes the nervousness of the team. His famous interview made the Spaniard doubt. He came across as superficial, which was disappointing, because the first impression was better. But coaches are tested by crises and Abascal’s reputation is now tarnished. It wasn’t just Berisha’s push: Bernard and Guillermo provoked each other. More importantly, the coach was in conflict with the Spartak players. The team is nervous. We fought with Zenit, there were small skirmishes, simulations and antics. Players are not distinguished by good manners, not only Sobolev was strange. If we summarize all the points, there is only one conclusion. Abaskal’s chances of staying at Spartak are fading, not to mention the chances of winning RPL and in the National Cup.
Guillermo is going through a personal coaching crisis against the backdrop of the “red-white” crisis, because the team has achieved only five victories in the last fourteen rounds of the championship. That’s not how season favorites play. Abascal is saved only by the indecision of the club’s new managers and the lack of a promising candidate to replace him. He misses a match against Krylya Sovetov before the winter break. If they lose to Samara again RPL, then Spartak will have a new coach. And if the battle is postponed due to bad weather, Abascal will remain. But is this good for the Moscow club? It’s difficult to say, because Spartak still promises. We also admit a series of successes in the spring, but so far the facts highlight the immaturity of the coach.
